I Alone Breed Dragons

Chapter 63: Absorbing The Dark Mana

I held my eyes on the grimoire, the wield construct of the lock, the binding, which I presume, were keeping the forbidden magic from getting tracked.

Before I then collected it from her, the chains were still, the pulse on them electric, run on pure dark mana.

I looked around, vigilant for anyone watching. Thankfully, we were a few meters from the market, not many eyes on us.

I held the book, then walked further away. "Follow me."

Maltie then hooked her arm on mine, walking close. "So, now I fulfilled what you asked of me, now it’s your turn."

"I said I’ll think about it, not grant it. So, I might delay."

"Uh?" Maltie then dug her fingers into my arm. "Stick to your part of the deal, what’s wrong with you."

"First thing, I don’t know if this is truly the grimoire, and secondly, I didn’t promise. Maybe you should have asked for a proper confirmation before walking off."

Maltie gasped. "Oh okay. You’re doing this on purpose."

"I am." I didn’t deny it.

"Then tell me your actual price rather than play with me. It’s getting infuriating." She increased her grip and her inch, but receiving no reaction from me, she gave up, as I kept walking forward, to somewhere isolated to begin training on the forbidden magic.

Tonight will be a long one.

I studied the lock of the magic. The moment I open it, I don’t know what might pour out, or what I might attract.

Getting far away from the village was the best option, not to drag the village into danger.

Risk getting my family hurt.

"Maltie, what happens when I open this book?"

"If you want me to answer, that would cost a night with you."

"If that’s your price, I’ll gladly pay it."

Maltie’s face brightened up, then dimmed back. She narrowed her eyes. "You’re lying. Cast a binding curse on yourself, then I’ll believe you."

"Maybe if you teach me."

I slipped my arm from hers, unfurled my wings quickly as I took off into the sky, flying further from the village.

"Wait. Tsk." Maltie flapped her wings, taking off with me, as she trailed behind.

From where I stood, I could view the full size of the village from a distance. I was back at the hill, standing in the same spot, the uprooted tree still lain to waste.

[Grimoire of forbidden techniques]

[Mana containment: SS rank]

I fixed my eyes on the lock. I grabbed the lock, insisting my grip, as I planned to break it from force.

Asking Maltie proved faulty. I’ll ask one more time.

"If I brute force the lock, or destroy the chain, what will follow?"

I turned around to look Maltie in the eyes. She shifted her face away. "I already told you my price. Until when you’re sincere, I’ll consider."

"Just so you know, if I brute force the lock, and the consequence spreads further than I can contain, there’s no way you’re fulfilling the queen’s ultimatum before she arrives."

The lock then cracked, as I clenched hard.

Maltie looked away, refusing to speak, then she exhaled. "You have to break the lock, that’s the only way. I don’t have the key on me. But beware, the moment the lock breaks, the mana suppression on that book will be broken. Like a flare, the dark mana will go up, and would affect everything around, and everyone who carries mana would be able to track you down."

"Then how did you use it without being caught?"

"The vault, it’s made of dark mana already, being at the vault premise, makes it easier to use the book without getting caught. You either use it now and risk destruction that may follow, or wait till you’re back at the kingdom, and can fully use it without worry."

I released my grip on the lock.

Affecting the environment, just like how mana stones are created from ambient mana sinking into things — if active mana were to force themselves into the nature around, that would naturally spawn magical beasts or plants.

Using the grimoire meant I agreed to be careful. I had to plan.

With absorb, I can absorb the mana harboured into the grimoire, but that will make me a target, especially since I didn’t have mana suppression. I might end up drawing them to Quinette if they move search into my village.

Even if her dark mana in her soul was contained, calm, settled, the dark mana in this grimoire was like a shaken bottle of wine. The moment I pop the lock, it will spread far.

That explains why Quinette was drawing much attention to herself from miles away, but this grimoire... could, despite Quinette’s mana level being superior.

Still, waiting till I return to Heart House was risky. If they were to strike any time soon, I wouldn’t be prepared to keep them trapped from fleeing like cowards.

So I had to fathom something, a technique of my own, and the shadow affinity gave me the tool I needed.

Sinking into my shadow, the feeling churned at my chest, like I was everywhere. Made sense since my shadow was an essential part of me, like an extra limb. I could absorb anything in my shadow.

Which meant, if I could unlock the grimoire in my shadow, absorbing dark mana poured into it, I can prevent it from flaring into the air, drawing attention. I could stay in my shadow till the dark mana settles. Still, success wasn’t guaranteed.

"If you want to flee, do it now." I turned around. Maltie wasn’t standing there anymore, she waved at me, standing at a further distance.

Guess I didn’t even need to speak.

I stepped back into my shadow, sinking back into it.

I returned my grip back on the lock. Veins bulged around my fist, then snapped. The lock snapped, crumbling in my fist.

The chains slipped off, the cover pulsed with raw mana. I prepared for what could come next, as the air around me crackled. I remained planted to the ground.

Dark mana spilled out like lightning volts, all around. I forced my grip to remain on the cover, as the pages flapped open, words written in crimson against a dark sheet.

"Absorb!" I barked, digging my fingers into the book.

Dark mana flowed from through my veins, the force pushed through, forcing into my soul with violent pulses.

My veins expanded, burning with heat. I tightened my fist. Not letting go.